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[petehosk]

I kind of agree about Crane - didn't he play in Aus last season as the overseas and was fantastic?
But still think that Rashid deserves to go. He is a leggie which means something different from Ali and Root. Plus he has generally bowled well and taken wickets - plus as a bonus he is a very handy batsman down the order.
Crane will get his chance in the next year or two. Just don't think there is any need to rush him in yet. Send him over with the Lions as backup if need be though!

[golders]

If we are going to take a rookie leggie, what about this guy?!
http://m.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/653695.html

https://youtu.be/juzb1HJmElg

We have a pretty poor record with treatment of our leggies-
Salisbury,Schofield, Rashid,Borthwick,all have been messed about imo- I think it would be a brave move to give Crane a go,of all places in Australia! Botham has been championing Leach,why is he not discussed-is it because he bowls in glasses and has dodgy teeth?! Vettori wore glasses and was pretty decent!!

[mattdawson]

Take a look at the delivery parkinson got stoneman with yesterday https://twitter.com/LancsCCC/status/912284070108962819. "whadda ripper" (warne accent)

Parkinson wont go though imo.

If they take one I think it will be Crane, had a decent time in Aus by all accounts and was first player not from there to play 1st class cricket in 32 years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/39193715 he will only play at sydney I'm sure.

Personally, I think Leach deserves a crack though as 2nd spinner, not sure what more he can do to get a gig.

[rich041187]

Im guessing England still think Leach chucks it

[Kulli]

Didn't he have a pretty stinky Lions tour last winter also?

[Buzz]

Take a look at the delivery parkinson got stoneman with yesterday https://twitter.com/LancsCCC/status/912284070108962819. "whadda ripper" (warne accent)

Should be not out as it is a back foot no ball.

I don't understand why Bess doesn't get a look in as a spinner.

[mattdawson]

Should be not out as it is a back foot no ball.

You think? I thought the camera was at a slight angle (offset to the right at bowlers end) giving it the look as a back foot no-ball.

Alex Davies in the runs again,had a great season, most runs and 2nd in keeper dismissals. If Foakes is in the squad, not seen enough to know how good he is, surely Davies is in the lions?

[ppccopener]

Guardian think a couple are already selected(do they take a guess or really have inside info?)

Recalls for for ballance and Vince. I like both players myself I know some on here don't rate them, ballance can tough it out old fashioned style and you need o e or two in a test series who can do that and Vince has serious talent. Does he have a brain thou? Because you cannot get out the same way all the time. If you morphed Vince and gaz maybe that's perfect.

Jake ball and Overton in according the the papers.

But that's all insignificant, yes it matters not.

Whatever has happened on the Bristol night out is yet to be found out for sure,it may be serious it may not be. To me Stokes looks in a bundle of trouble.

But from purely a cricket point of view, can we replace him? I don't think anyone comes close and having grown up with Botham in my opinion he is as good as him. We need him in the side.

But if he can't go who would be picked instead? I would think we would have to drop a batsman and play the extra bowler maybe with bairstow moving up the order?

[edge]

His former partner in crime and fellow overly aggressive allrounder Matt Coles. Absolutely guaranteed to get in no trouble whatsover in Australia...

[alexhilly1492]

But that's all insignificant, yes it matters not.

Whatever has happened on the Bristol night out is yet to be found out for sure,it may be serious it may not be. To me Stokes looks in a bundle of trouble.

I hate to but o agree here! I'm not sure the ecb would let hales back unless it was serious bother he must be the only witness that stokes can rely on! Anyway back you the point to replace stokes is nigh on impossible,

Without him for me woakes is the alrounder and bats at six!

Stokes is probably our most aggressive and quickest bowler so that needs replacing, if go for plunkett

Without benny and taking into all the roumors and hearsay I'd pick:

Cook
Stoneman
Root
Robson
Malan
Woakes
Bairstow
Ali
Plunkett
Broad
Anderson

And take
westley
Crane
Vince
Overton
Buttler
Ballance

[alexhilly1492]

I hate to but o agree here! I'm not sure the ecb would let hales back unless it was serious bother he must be the only witness that stokes can rely on! Anyway back you the point to replace stokes is nigh on impossible,

Without him for me woakes is the alrounder and bats at six!

Stokes is probably our most aggressive and quickest bowler so that needs replacing, if go for plunkett

Without benny and taking into all the roumors and hearsay I'd pick:

Cook
Stoneman
Root
Robson
Malan
Woakes
Bairstow
Ali
Plunkett
Broad
Anderson

And take
westley
Crane
Vince
Overton
Buttler
Ballance

Robson is purely gut instinct
If not have vince or ballance anywhere near my squad I'd take foakes and hales instead of those, tell root he is batting at 3 malan 4 hales 5 stokes obviously 6 (if able) then a bowling attack of 4 seamers stokes woakes broad Anderson and Ali as the spinner

I get the feeling that this is going to be a horrific ashes series for us and Bayliss won't be around much longer! I hope I'm wrong and we end up nicking a 2-1 win!

[LateBloomer]

I will be absolutely devastated if Stokes is out of the Ashes! Been drooling over the thought of seeing him take on Starc and Cummins at Perth

Someone find out the name of the other guy involved in Bristol - time for some Corleone style witness intimidation

[Seniorplayer]

It could be except that the Aussies have there own problems.

[ppccopener]

It could be except that the Aussies have there own problems.

Stokes is a big player, the Aussies if they can get Cummins,Starc and Patterson fit are a good attack. Lyon is decent despite some bad press on CBF! 

There is not enough quality either side for it to be real quality, it looks pretty even to me

If we are without Stokes, that would be a huge blow. Australia are no mugs and it's hard to win over there as history proves

It could be a tight series...

[WalkingWicket37]

It could be except that the Aussies have there own problems.

I'm not sure their best 11 is still up for debate in the same way as ours, but...
Looking at the lineup who played their last test:

M T Renshaw
D A Warner
S P D Smith*
P S P Handscomb
G J Maxwell
H W R Cartwright
M S Wade+
A C Agar
P J Cummins
S N J O'Keefe
N M Lyon

They're unlikely to play 3 spinners for the first Test, so Agar and O'keefe are likely to make way.
This leaves Gary the Goat as the front line spinner, with Big Show Maxwell there to send down some part time offies.
Should Maxwell make the final XI though? A few seem to think there are better alternatives.

I'm not sure on the fitness of the Aussie seamers, so this is a guess, but I think Starc and Hazlewood are likely to come in.

Having not seen much of Cartwright, I cannot really comment on how cemented his place is. He looks most likely to make way for Usman Khawaja, who has a great record at home. This then leaves the question as to where he slots into the order, in at 4 or does Smith move down?

I anticipate their lineup will be something like, those in italics the players who's spot isn't nailed down:
M Renshaw
D Warner
U Khawaja
S Smith*
P Handscomb
G Maxwell
M Wade+
M Starc
P J Cummins
J Hazlewood
N M Lyon

The biggest question mark over that side then looks to be Wade.
Has he done anything (other than shout "nice Gary") since his return that justifies him above Nevil?
Does Nevil come back into the side, does Hanscomb get the gloves or is there another keeper waiting in the wings?

Their issues don't seem as severe as our, but the series could be a lot closer than some people are anticipating.
I'm confident England will avoid another whitewash, at least!